Ray Wilkins: I was a villain and bang out of order after being held for drink driving

Former England and Chelsea footballer Ray Wilkins confessed he was a "villain" and "bang out of order" after he was held for drink-driving, a court heard today.

The 56-year-old was allegedly rude and abusive in custody where police conducted breath tests which revealed he was around three times over the legal limit.

But today he claimed that he had drunk just two glasses of red wine before getting behind the wheel and insisted he had been sipping water "all evening" and "felt fine".

The Sky Sports pundit was stopped near his home in Cobham, Surrey, as he returned from an awards ceremony in his Jaguar XJ at 1.45am on May 7 last year.

He was allegedly unable to stand and slurred his words before he was handcuffed and placed in the back of an unmarked patrol car where he "passed out" en route to a local police station.

Wilkins was questioned in custody but was unable to recall certain police procedures - including a request to remove his shoes.

North Surrey Magistrates' Court in Staines has seen CCTV footage which shows the pundit unleash a foul-mouthed tirade after officers insisted he gave breath samples before making a call to his wife.

Paul Lund, prosecuting, asked: "Do you remember the officer saying 'It's not going to help if you are rude and abusive'?"

Wilkins replied: "I don't remember that".

The prosecutor said: "Do you remember saying the following words 'I'm bang out of order'?"

Wilkins answered: "That's something I would say if I said something of that ilk".

But he claimed he had no memory of making the remark.

"You say you weren't bang out of order for being abusive," Mr Lund said.

He added: "You were arrested for drink-driving, you say 'I'm a villain, I'm bang out of order'. I will admit that."

Wilkins rejected the accusation.

Earlier the court heard that the pundit had handed out medals to children during the Bournemouth event on the evening of May 6.

He left the ceremony at around 11pm.

The court has heard that Wilkins was pulled over nearly two hours later when Pc Nicholas Skidmore spotted his car "weaving" down the road shortly after it allegedly hit a traffic island close to the pundit's home.

Wilkins was forced to lean on the Jaguar for support as he spoke to the officer before he was driven to Reigate police station.

Today he rejected suggestions that he "passed out" in the officer's car after drinking "a lot of alcohol".

Dressed in a dark suit and tie as he gave evidence in his defence, he said: "I was extremely tired after a long day, a lot of driving and I was a tired person".

The court heard that Wilkins, who had not eaten since lunchtime, did not raise a single objection to his arrest and felt he was safe to drive.

Mr Lund suggested the player drank significantly more alcohol than he claimed during the event - or even while making his way home - and knew "perfectly well" he was over the limit.

"You have been involved with professional sport at a high level and have dealt with the production of fit athletes and you have seen how they behave, young footballers who get themselves into trouble," he said.

"It's not credible that you don't know about drink-driving."

He added: "You didn't utter a single protest about the events that befell you, Mr Wilkins.

"I suggest that's because you knew from the moment you saw the blue lights, that you were bang to rights, didn't you?"

The defendant replied: "You can suggest what you wish but I wasn't."

Wilkins, who notched up 84 caps for England during his playing days, was held in custody until 8.30am.

He was charged after tests revealed he had 104 and 102 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - almost three times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

A third reading, taken at the roadside, recorded 109 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath, the court heard.

During his career, the former footballer played at various clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan and Queens Park Rangers and was awarded an MBE in 1993 for services to football.